Two players Chelsea could sign to replace AC Milan-bound Cesc Fabregas
A lot has been happening at Chelsea recently. New boss Maurizio Sarri is at the helm of the club and he brought in some big names with him. The likes of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Kepa Arrizabalaga have strengthened the squad considerably.
But these new signings have also pushed some players to the periphery of the first-team. One such figure is Cesc Fabregas, who has not received enough playing minutes under Sarri. To make things all the more concerning, he only has a year left on his current contract.
Once this season comes to an end, Fabregas could leave Chelsea for free. However, a recent report from Daily Express has claimed that AC Milan might try to sign him in the January transfer window on a cut-price deal.
With that in mind, here are two potential replacements for Fabregas.
Thiago Alcantara
Alcantara swapped Barcelona for Bayern Munich in 2013 and has gone on to win five Bundesliga titles since then. The La Masia-trained Alcantara is one of the best midfielders in Germany.
He is an astute passer of the ball and can control the tempo of his game with his smart movement and passing. Another thing Alcantara brings to the table is his brilliant dribbling skills. He often utilizes his low centre of gravity to great effect and dribbles his way out of trouble, especially in tight spaces.
At 27, he is in the prime of his career and could improve the Blues’ squad considerably. He was linked with a £62m switch to Chelsea in the summer but the deal didn’t materialize. However, the Londoners must make an attempt to sign the Spanish international in the winter transfer window.
Ethan Ampadu/Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Chelsea don’t need to look far to replace Cesc Fabregas. They have two of the best young midfielders in their own squad in the form of Ethan Ampadu and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Both players haven’t received enough playing minutes this campaign, as they are behind the likes of Jorginho, Kovacic, N’Golo Kante and Fabregas.
However, if Fabregas leaves in January, both players should receive their chances. Given their talent, they could work wonders either in the Europa League or in cup competitions.
Loftus-Cheek had a brilliant season with Crystal Palace last time out. He also enjoyed a great summer with England in the World Cup.
Although Ampadu is only 17, he has impressed in the recent international matches for Wales and deserves to receive more minutes under his belt.
